Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-04-20

"Yes, ma'am." said F1acI.e, more


than willing.
"SeeIn' you couldn't attend, nor send
your regrets, you must make a party
call. Let's see, PlacIde. your pa was a
small man. 1 shouldn't wonder il you
most growed into his swallow-tail
coat by this time THIS was your pas
dress-cOat," she said. as she laid it
out on the bed.
Yes, ma 'am," said Planlde.
Now slip in your arms and let's
see how it will do" (The tail came
within SIX inches of the floor. "'T'aint
SO dreadful long If it is little loose, :"
she said. "COats is worn long now
gentleman's overcoats come clear down
to their heels"
The white vest did pretty well by
pinDing up broad plait in the back;
his mothers kid gloves did not wrinkle
very much, and the shine on his Shoes
couldn't have been improved.
After being thoroughly instructed
on various points, lie set out to make
his party call" thinking his costume
was about the thing. Fortunately
darkness protected him.
Smiles stroye for the mastery in
Dolly's face as she ushered him into
sittIng-room, announcing, This
young gentleman wants to see Miss
Mabel.''
They were all ladies' and gentlemen
at DR.. Lawrence'5 however. Mabel
REDEEMED, as he entered, but she arose
as grave as a judge. ard offered him Il
chair.
This is Piacide DeCastro, papa"
she said to the doctor, who eyed him
through his glasses in some amazement.
Placide executed his COW with great
elegance and precision, saluting in
turn the doctor, Mrs. Lawrence aud
Mabel ending up with comprehensive
salaam for the rest of the family.
"Please accept my respectful thanks,
Miss Lawrence, for the the kind
invitation to your party" was his
opening remark.
81 am sorry you didn't come; We
had a very nice time" answered
Mabel, politely.
This opened the way for his second
speech.
II should, doubtless, have enjoyed
the occasion extremely, but my attend:
ance was prevented by circumstances
over which 1 had no control" This
sentence he had memorized from
Complete Letter writer.")
"Wouldn't your mother let You
Gomez" asked Mabel.
Not being exactly prepared for this,
he answered naturally enough:
''Oh, yes ms'aml The reason is, thas
did not get tke valentine till to-day"
THAT was too bad!' SAID Mabel.
"Otberwise, l should have been
present or sent my regrets," reclted
Placlde, seeing his opportunity.
When the doctor asked him, "Are
you attending school this wiEter?" lie
replied, "Yes, sir, am pursuing my
studies under the direction of Miss Rose
Mayfield," and lie WIS prepared with
several other elegant replies to possible
queries; but after this the conversation
ran in channels unfayorable to their
introduction.
The doctor was regularly captiyatel;
the quaIntness of the whole proceeding
took his fancy. POlitenes5 IN young
America" was a phenomenon worth
studying. Osce clear OF the points OF
"ettiquetty" lie found the boy quite
simple and childlike, while the thought
fulness and intelligence Of his replies
pleased his questioner very much.
Not to outstay the proper limits of
call, PIacide presently arose and made
his adieux.
That must have been poor De-
Cistro's professional coat said the
doctor. There is certainly something
In that costume which gives an air of
gentility to the wearer."
"Why-didn't you think he looked
papa?" asked Mabel.
Not exactly, my dear; it looked as
though he might be masquerading.
There are some unusal elements of char
acter in that boy" he went on. ~
like his nerve. | doubt II another boy
in the place could be induced to preform
that little act OF courtesy"
One day, while his interest was still
fresh, Rose Mayfsld praised Placide, in
his hearing, as her most ambitious
pupil. at IS a pity" she said, that
he must leave school when Spring
opens; they are so poor it is necessary
for him to work"
The doctor determined TO be of
service to him lie really needed an
office boy-an errdnd boy-a generally
useful boy. Pi2cide. he felt confident,
was exactly the kind o. boy he wanted,
and so the lad was presently lifted to
the topmost pinnacle Of human bliss by
the offer of the situation, with the priv
ilege of pursuing his studies under di-
rectlOn of the tutor employed 20 pre-
pare Hal and Archie for college And
that was the Iise in the world.
These same qualities of faithfulness
and zeal, which secured him the first
adj vance, In time enabled :Iim to tec0me
the trusted associate of Doctor Law.
renca